At the end of December of the first year of the Meiji era, Yanagizumi finally crossed the sea on a British merchant ship to Ezo Island, what would become Hokkaido.

A nasty cold wind blows in her face, and Yanagizumi soon finds Keisuke Otori, who has come to greet her on the docks.

The way the other party greets is really as off-line as in memory.

"Ah, long time no see, Kiyohara-kun. ...... With such a thoughtful expression, could it be that he was thinking of someone?"

...... People who have received Western education, are they even so direct about gossip?

Liu Quan was silent for a moment, and stretched out his hand to shake his hand in greeting.

“...... I just remembered those companions of the Shinsengumi. ”

I don't know if it was her generous handshake that startled him, or if her words startled him. Anyway, Big Bird had a frightened look on his face and quickly retracted his hand.

This action made Liu Quan feel a little interesting.

"Oh yes, Otori-kun, I haven't congratulated you on founding the Ezo Republic. ”

"The name of the republic seems to be a bit of a fuss. Big Bird looked very happy and said modestly with a smile.

As a greeting, Liu Quan of course continued to say two beautiful words.

"What an achievement. The Britons on board were talking about it. ”

Big Bird was slightly stunned.

“...... Kiyohara-kun can also understand what those British people are saying?!"

...... Damn, what a sharp guy. Liu Quan couldn't help but curse in his heart. But there was an innocent smile on his face.

"Listen to someone else's story. I can't help but pay attention to the news about Ezo. ”

The answer was impeccable, and Big Bird laughed.

"The cumbersome personnel election is over. Thankfully, there is a place where you can be entertained. ”

Liu Quan also laughed.

"Oh, looks like I'm late. I'd like to vote for it. ”

Big Bird gave a thoughtful, ambiguous smile.

“...... Kiyohara-kun really did a lot of homework in order to be able to come here and continue to follow Hijikata-kun. He said meaningfully, "That's right, as the acting leader of the Shinsengumi Ichiban Group, 'Kiyohara Yukiya'-kun, also has the right to vote - who are you going to vote for, it seems that I don't need to ask." ”

“...... I won't vote for Mr. Hijikata, you guessed wrong. Yanagizumi said dryly, "The establishment of a country is not a joke, is it? Mr. Hijikata does not have the talent to command an entire country." ...... With his hands-on style, he will exhaust himself to death before the country is on a good track. ”

Big Bird's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, and then burst into a burst of cheerful laughter.

"Hahahahaha......"

Liu Quan's eyebrows were raised high, and his hands were folded in front of his chest, waiting patiently for him to finish laughing.

Big Bird finally swallowed the smile, seemed very pleasant, and thoughtfully changed the subject.

“...... I can only wait for three months, and it's really a long time, right?"

"Yes. Liu Quan replied frankly and unabashedly.

"However, the fact that you were able to conquer the Matsumae Domain and establish the Ezo Republic in three months has fully proved your excellence. Moreover, I did not waste this time. ”

The big bird led her into a carriage, and told the coachman to "go back to Wulengguo", and the carriage walked up the road.

In the car, their conversation continued.

"Since coming to Ezo, Hijikata-kun has slowly changed. ”

This sentence was something that Liu Quan did not expect at all. Her eyes widened in amazement.

"Huh?!"

Big Bird whispered, "Although he is still gentle with his subordinates, he has spent more time locked in his room. He seems to be constantly deep in thought, and he doesn't let anyone near at such times. ”

For his words, Liu Quan felt a little speechless for a while.

It is true that when we were separated, I jokingly asked you to monitor the deputy chief for me...... But I didn't expect that you would immediately and honestly pour out all the information about the deputy chief during this period of time to me as soon as we first met! Are you a little too enthusiastic about this job as a private spy......?!

Ignoring the look of surprise on her face, Big Bird's revelations continued.

"Since I invited you here without permission, I ask you to listen to what I have to say. ...... Maybe I'm troublesome, but there is also an opportunity for him to make a decision to quietly invite you here despite the repeated efforts of Hijikata-kun. ”

"We held a banquet to celebrate the unification of Ezo, and we also recalled Hijikata-kun, who had been busy in various parts of the front line. ”

"That day, he had not been pleasant, and he had not drunk much. Later, I went to look for him and found out that he was still drunk. ”

Hearing this, a wry smile appeared on Liu Quan's face.

“...... He recalled to me all of you in the Shinsengumi. ”

"As you said on the docks, you're reminiscing about them, aren't you?...... In the midst of remembering everyone, I find that your shadow has been floating in the memories associated with them. ”

"For example, when it came to the former director Kondo-kun, Hijikata-kun finally said with a little apology: I made a little too much of a request from her in order to rescue Kondo-kun-"

Liu Quan sighed, and a hint of understanding appeared on his face.

“...... No, that's nothing. He would have asked for that, and I had already realized it. It's just a pity that I didn't live up to his expectations......"

The big bird stared at her silently.

“...... When the guy was drunk, he unexpectedly talked a lot. ”

He also talked about the group's signboard, Okita-kun. ”

"At the beginning, the little girl that the Shinsengumi took in—what's her name??Yukimura-kun?—is she still working with Okita-kun?"

Liu Quan nodded.

"On the way to Sendai, we met both of them. ”

"Ah, I've heard that, too. Big Bird's expression relaxed.

"Because Hijikata-kun suddenly said something with a little resentment: 'At that time, the head secretary is still talking nonsense!, what did he say to her, [don't let the deputy chief run away with other women until the next meeting]!"

Liu Quan was stunned, and then burst out laughing. As the laughter subsided, a warm look appeared on her face.

Big Bird looked at her with a look of pleasure.

Now, the face of the woman in front of him, who had stepped through countless dangers and blood along with the best of the Shinsengumi, had an expression similar to that of Hijikata that day.

I remember the past when I fought side by side with my best companions, and bury each of them in my heart as if those who were gone away had become a part of my body.

"I used to think that when I got to this point, I would have nothing but follow the deputy commander like a team member......

Liu Quan suddenly spoke, and a look of emotion appeared on his face.

“...... I used to think that there was someone else who won the favor of Mr. Hijikata. ”

...... Maybe there was a time when that was the case.

But ah, she, a vicious and sinister female partner, has repeatedly said such high-sounding gorgeous reasons as "for the future of this world" for the sake of the heavy task delivered by the system, and keeps getting in the way of it.

It seems that it really came to the end.,Overturned the arrangement in the game and the original fandom.,The woman standing in the land of Ezo.,Become her.。

Liu Quan sighed softly.

"I haven't done anything about the Shinsengumi, but I've also kept some secrets from the Shinsengumi. ”

"Strictly speaking, I'm not as innocent, upright, gentle and lovely as the girl you just mentioned. ”

"Someone once said I ...... I seem to have forgotten how to be a woman, and I do something completely uncute all day long......"

A touch of tender, nostalgic affection appeared on her face.

"I used to be a dead man...... He has also repeatedly drawn his sword in front of the enemy and fought. I don't pretend I've never killed anyone, and I've never had anyone else's blood on my hands. ”

"That's how I ended up standing on the land of Ezo...... Should I say it's Mr. Hijikata's misfortune......?!"

Big Bird was stunned, and it took about a dozen seconds for him to react and burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha......"

It was with great difficulty that he managed to control the smile, and there was still a happy aftermath in his voice.

“...... I didn't send a letter to ask you to come over to make Hijikata-kun feel unlucky. ”

He said to Liu Quan in this solemn tone.

"On the contrary, I invited you because I was convinced that Kiyohara-kun was now in an extremely important position. ”

"I can't say that in Hijikata-kun's memories after he got drunk, there was no mention of anyone else...... However, at the end of the memory, he did mention you. ”

"At that time, he looked very nostalgic and said, 'What the hell is going on with that guy......

"Even if I had been forced to stay there at the time, I would have resisted the urge to cry and moved forward without fear. For a long time, she's been working hard as a member of the Shinsengumi. ’”

"'That tenacious attitude will always remain in my memory, and I would have lived without it...... But I don't know why, when I think about it, I still feel lonely...... Don't...... Has she become a part of me before you know it......'"

The big bird relayed word by word, and Liu Quan's eyes widened.

"This ...... How could it be ......?!" she murmured, undisguised her shocked expression.

...... Since before, she has always been the one who has been constantly left behind by him.

At all times, and even every time danger hits, she must stand up straight on her own and face the dangerous opponents in front of her.

She had never been maintained or cared for by him as a "girl". She also once thought that she was an excellent player who came here to perform another difficult task, and she didn't need that kind of maintenance and care.

But it was only now, when she heard his description relayed from other people's mouths, that she suddenly realized that being in such a position for many years had created a bottomless black hole in her heart. And now, the black hole twisted, ached, and shrunk by a new warmth, and if you saw that person, the rest of it would be completely gone.

The expression on her face gradually changed from extreme surprise to warm and calm. By the end, she even chuckled softly.

"Big Bird-kun...... Are you really a divine assistant sent by the deputy chief?" she whispered something he didn't understand, her eyes filled with a confident and bright smile.

The big bird couldn't help but smile wryly again. He took out a piece of paper with a very good texture folded in two from the side of the saddle and handed it to Liu Quan.

Liu Quan took it and opened it to take a look, and inside was an order appointing Kiyohara Yukiha as the junior surname of the Turkish Army.

“...... She was slightly stunned for a moment, then bent her eyebrows and smiled.

Big Bird rubbed his chin a little embarrassed.

"Oops, hey, I know, it's a bit overkill to let the former acting leader of the group serve as the little surname......"

"No, that's good. Liu Quan closed the letter of appointment, straightened up, and looked at the big bird.

"If I'm here as the head of the Ichiban team, I can't stay with him all the time...... He wouldn't let me just stay with him. He's going to give me so many tasks that I'm going to get tired of......"

A smile slowly appeared on her face. In this era when men wear dresses and cut off their long hair, although she also wears men's dresses, her long black hair tied up in a long ponytail high behind her head has already explained her true gender. There was no disguise or disguise on her face at the moment, and she looked like a young and beautiful woman—no one would mistake her again.

"It is true that the Great Bird Monarch made this appointment out of consideration for me. Thank you so much. Then I happily accepted it. ”

The big bird seemed a little taken aback, and after a moment, he laughed.

"Oh, what a crouching tiger in our army?...... Even the small surnames pursued by the army are all former Shinsengumi cadres?"

Liu Quan replied solemnly, "...... Indeed it is. ”